Design Exploration Blog
Week 1 - Week 14
Khan Saif || 0367438
Design Exploration || Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Design Exploration E-Portfolio
WEEK 1:
This week, Ms. Anis has briefed the assignment and it is about the mental health wellness campaign. The goal is to make a final product that responds to the theme of mental health. I made a moodboard to Ms. Anis and Ms. Eunice and I’ve proposed that the final product should be related to toy-based media, alongside numerous potential projects that could fit my specialisation related to graphic design. Both Ms. Eunice and Ms. Anis approved the storybook idea, which I ended up going as well.
List of ideas I've proposed during the consultation:
Campaign Visuals / Poster combo
Illustration Series
Mixed Media Visuals
Infographics (Visual Communication) is nice too.
Quick illustrative video of digital artwork (With a transition of a story book)
Comic/Story Book sequences of what they went through (Final Idea)
WEEK 2:
ABSENT
WEEK 3:
The proposed story/comic follows a stuffed toy that a college student happens to adore and as a source of comfort. The tone for the writing was slightly juvenile with some thought-provoking discomfort but also ends with a heartwarming message. The duo share a negative trait of overthinking the worst in every aspect of their life and the story ends with someone also sharing the same vulnerabilities, making the toy understand what is like to have a connection for The message is that it is ok to be open about our struggles and vulnerabilities and having a source of comfort to make the struggle less heavy should not be a taboo or shame.
This week, I presented my story idea to Mr. Anis and Ms. Eunice. They seemed a little confused at first because the way I write the proposal is a little rough, but we eventually have common ground and both advise me to start the storyboard right away.
WEEK 4:
This week, I finished the storyboard and submit my proposal to Ms. Eunice.
The story’s plotline goes like this (Fixed upon consultation by Ms. Eunice)
Exposition (Pg 1-3)
The plush looks around the house and overthink the worst things imaginable. (E.g. Getting thrown into the trash can, getting exposed to pile of mess, feared by student)
Conflict (Pg 3-4)
What the plush overthought didn’t happen. If anything, the student had a deep emotional attachment to him/her upon lying in bed. Toy overthinks he/she is not worthy of love and does not understand the attachment the student has for him/her.
Rising Action (Pg 5-6)
Getting ready for school, the student decided to bring the plush along with him as he is getting much more comfortable by bringing the plush around as a source of comfort. Plush overthinks the worst again simply because he/she was brought outside. (Getting laughed at, bitten by a dog, puddles)
Climax (Pg 7-9)
What the plush overthought didn’t happen again. He/she was looking around the school and the student seemed to be struggling and overthinking a lot. He is getting mentally exhausted. (Getting bad expectations around work, volunteers, Transcript, Driving)
Falling Action / Resolution (Pg 10-12)
Getting emotionally and mentally exhausted, the student once again have deep emotional attachment to the plush and he/she seems to understand what the student was going through and the attachment.
Ms. Eunice understood the premise behind the comic and the idea of finding a source of comfort to make students’ vulnerabilities (overthinking) less heavy. However, she commented that the ending should involve the human connection more and finding someone to share the common ground with. This suggestion gives more clarity and helps reinforce how genuine connections can help ease the weaknesses and insecurities we often try to hide.
Storyboard Link:
https://online.fliphtml5.com/qmrkp/atuj/#p=1
WEEK 5:
I’ve given Ms. Eunice a complete presentation concept, character design and and more storyboard updates.
WEEK 6
I've presented my presentation for the comic, (Oringinally titled Stars and Stitches) and Ms. Anis immediately pointed out the storyboard, while visually promising, the story loses, especially when the story is supposed to be Lumie’s perspective of overthinking. Ms. Anis suggested me to redo the storyboard so that the story is much more flashed out.
Presentation Link
During the presentation, Ms. Anis immediately pointed out the storyboard, while visually promising, the story loses, especially when the story is supposed to be Lumie’s perspective of overthinking. Ms. Anis suggested me to redo the storyboard so that the story is much more flashed out and focuses more on Lumie’s growth and understand of overthinking from student.
As of next week, I have to redo the storyboard by Friday and Ms. Anis approved of the project.
WEEK 7:
I’ve redone the storyboard with more progressive storyline and presented to Ms. Anis and Ms. Eunice for approval.
Ms. Anis's Feedback:
Ms. Anis stated that most of the storyboard seemed to show Lumie’s progress as a character.
She seemed to be curious about the house of cards scene. I explained to her that this is where Lumie’s reality crumbled down. She approved of this scene. (Page 9)
She was confused in the scene on page 10, where Lumie was taken down to the trash can. I tried to explain to her that this is one of his/her overthinking scenarios where Lumie was scared of being abandoned, but she thought that the scene is not needed because the audience might have different interpretations that might not be accurate to the goal of the scene.
Ms. Eunice stated that most of the storyboard seemed to show Lumie’s progress as a character.
However, Ms. Eunice suggested to add visual clarity by adding a few visual parallels between the student and Lumie as this would show the representation of overthinking much better. (E.g. Mirrored actions, shared framing etc.)
WEEK 8 (PROJECT PLANNING):
While continuing with the illustration and the storyboard progress, I also work for the timeline for the google sheets to keep up with the schedule.
Google Sheets
As of now, I am currently working on the logo design and fixing the storyboard before starting the illustrations.
Final Storyboard Description:
Exposition (Page 1-2)
Student was tired and went through a bad day. (volunteering, bad results)
Lumie just sit in a bag uncomfortably, while not understanding what has he been through.
May seem like a slow start, but it is a buildup for their conflict and builds the duo’s foundation between stress and naivete.
Conflict (Page 3-4)
Student’s got rejected. He overthinks and thinks, and eventually trauma crawls its way back.
Lumie, while still naive and uncomfortable, shows concern for the first time.
This is where both Lumie’s development and demise begins.
reminds audience that empathy, not matter how small, can break through isolations.
Rising Action (Page 5-6)
Out of curiosity, Lumie decided to walk around the student’s room.
Things did not go so well for Lumie, as the room is very messy and Lumie has trouble keeping him/herself together.
This is where Lumie experiences uncertainty and develops an instinct and sense of threat inside his/her head.
Climax (Page 7-8)
Lumie saw the sales poster of him/herself, now uncertainty becomes a distraction.
FIRST THE SALES POST, THEN SEWING KIT, THEN THE HOUSE OF CARDS (LATER).
The poster alone is where Lumie overthinks questions about his/her existence.
This highlights that overthinking can distort reality, even if nothing’s hurting them.
Falling Action (Page 9-10)
Even as harmless as a deck of cards rub Lumie the wrong way.
The scenes emphasizes how unchecked overthinking can distort reality, but also sets up the emotional turning point between Lumie and the student.
Resolution (page 11-12)
Related to Lumie, they both decide to reach out, hugged out and accept each other.
WEEK 9:
As of week 9, I've updated some illustrations, Lumie’s design change and logo development
WEEK 10 (PROJECT DEVELOPMENT):
Ms. Anis said the logo is a bit overdesigned, and the typeface of the logo has already been well represented.
Ms. Anis pointed out that I should work on my layout page as soon as possible to communicate the demo of the final project.
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